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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wasabi-Glazed Salmon - Salmon Ladders - Outdoor Wednesday

A salmon ladder on the McKenzie River in Oregon. The ladder is a step-like structure designed to allow fish to migrate upstream over or through a barrier to spawn.

It's a Sisyphean effort. While these ladders help the salmon make their long way home, the journey is arduous. It's fascinating, almost mesmerizing, to watch them clear these and other hurdles encountered on the way to their spawning grounds. It's a lesson in determination and the biological imperative which ensures a constant flow of salmon to our markets. I feel almost - almost - guilty about using so simple a recipe for salmon, but, truth be told, it is one of my best finds. It's low in fat and very easy to make. The secret ingredient here is the wasabi paste that gives some oomph to a fairly standard teriyake glaze. I clipped the Weight Watcher's recipe from the Washington Post several years ago and it immediately made it to my permanent recipe rotation. I would advise anyone who is unfamiliar with wasabi paste to add it to the teriyake sauce in 1/2 teaspoon increments. You can always add more, but once it's in the mix there's no turning back. I enjoy mild to medium heat and do not find 2 teaspoons of the paste to be excessive. If you are in a real hurry, use commercially prepared teriyake sauce and add wasabi paste to it. If you can't find the paste, use a teaspoon of wasabi powder mixed with 1-1/2 teaspoons water as a substitute. Here's one of the easiest recipes your ever likely to find. Once you have tried it, you'll know why the salmon is called "king."

Directions:1) In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together mirin, vinegar, soy sauce, honey, ginger and wasabi to taste. (Add the wasabi incrementally, tasting as you go.) Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until glaze thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.2) Meanwhile, spray a large nonstick skillet with oil and place over medium-high heat. Add salmon and cook, turning once, until fish is browned on the outside and opaque in center, about 4 minutes per side, depending on thickness of the fillet. Spoon sauce over the salmon. Serve hot. Yield: 4 servings.

From "Weight Watchers Take-Out Tonight: 150+ Restaurant Favorites to Make at Home, All 8 Points or Less" (Fireside, 2003). Each serving is 4 points.

This sounds delicious! My DH is not much of a fish eater, but I might be able to get him to eat this with the wasabi glaze. We love wasabi! And I really love that this is a pretty guilt free dish! Thanks. Kathy

I just love it when I read a recipe that sounds good, and I have all the ingredients. I have wasabi paste, neglected, in my cupboard. We love salmon so I'll have to see if we have any fresh salmon at my market.

My mouth is watering BIG TIME ... seriously! My favorite way to eat salmon (and Ahi) is with a bit of Wasabi, but I usually do so in a restaurant. Perhaps I'll give THIS recipe a try sometime soon even though I don't spend much time in the kitchen any more. Thanks so much ;-)Hugs and blessings,

Don't yell at me for saying this, but I really don't care for salmon. :) I have tried it several times, prepared different ways and just can't seem to get a taste for it. I am not a picky eater, but I don't care for strong fish or strong cheese. Thanks for stopping by and nice compliment on my pictures. Believe me - it is hit and miss situation, as I delete more than I use.

The Salmon ladders are so interesting Mary. We visited the locks in Seattle with the Salmon ladders way back when. The salmon recipe looks great. I'll have to try it since we BBQ salmon once a week around here...

I am always so fascinated by the lifecycle of the salmon. How far they will travel to come and fight their way back up those ladders, just to have it all end!! Thanks for the recipe and Happy Outdoor Wednesday : )

Thanks for the yummy salmon recipe I eat it all the time. I loved it when we went to Oregon it was fun. We have lots of places to fish around where I live in Placer County, it's fun. Your chocolate walnut bars or what nots? can't remember what I saw now in previous post looks so scrumptious! Have a great evening!

Alessandra, the ladder in this picture is as high as a two story home. However, the height really depends on the height of the barrier the salmon must cross. They can be much higher or lower than this one.

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